Captain FABERasked why Major phillips, who enlisted into the Royal Engineers as a private soldier in 1863, was not allowed to take the honorary rank of lieutenant-colonel on his retirement in December last, seeing that he has been so favourably mentioned on so many different occasions?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr Haldane)The hon. and gallant Member has been somewhat misinformed. This officer was placed on the retired list in December, 1899, as quartermaster and honorary captain. After re-employment during the South African War he was again placed on the retired list on 23rd April, 1901, and was granted the honorary rank of major in recognition of his services. He was subsequently given employment in a purely civil capacity as a clerk of works. There is no regulation under which he can be granted a further step of honorary rank, and he has been so informed on more than one occasion.